Mapping the support environment for sperm-producing stem cells
Spatially Resolved, Functional Dissection of the Human Spermatogonial Stem Cell Niche
Researchers are mapping how sperm-producing stem cells and their surrounding cells in the testicle interact to help people with infertility and germ-cell cancers.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Ut Southwestern Medical Center NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Dallas, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11262867 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
You may be asked to donate small samples of testicular tissue or allow researchers to use surgical specimens. Scientists will use a technique called spatial transcriptomics to see which genes are active in specific cells while keeping tissue structure intact. They will combine those maps with laboratory experiments to test how nearby cells and signals influence stem cell behavior. The work compares normal and disease-associated tissues to find signals that keep stem cells healthy or that may drive cancer or infertility.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates are men providing testicular tissue through surgery, biopsy, or fertility evaluation, including those with infertility or germ-cell tumors.
Not a fit: People seeking an immediate change in medical care or those without testicular conditions are unlikely to get direct benefit from this research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could point to new ways to preserve fertility, improve diagnosis, or guide treatments for germ-cell cancers.
How similar studies have performed: Related spatial gene-mapping studies have started to chart testis cell types, but using these maps to functionally test human stem-cell niche interactions is relatively new.
Where this research is happening
Dallas, United States
- Ut Southwestern Medical Center — Dallas, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Chen, Haiqi — Ut Southwestern Medical Center
- Study coordinator: Chen, Haiqi
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.